A “perfect storm” of global events has resulted in long lead times for some paper grades – with mills resorting to allocation for the first time in over a decade – and printers and paper buyers have been warned to plan ahead for the rest of the year.
The combination of factors affecting the supply of graphical papers includes increasing demand for pulp for other markets, such as tissue and hygiene products, which has pushed prices up to almost $1,200 (£883) a tonne. A year ago, it was

Stora Enso has launched a new service called ReadyReel from its Lumipaper NV converting services site located in Antwerp, Belgium. ReadyReel is a rewinding and palletizing service that offers rapid delivery of reels ready in the format and position needed for loading on to the press directly.
The ReadyReel service for narrow format reels has been developed to serve digital printers as well as direct mail and envelope converters. This allows customers to manage the ever-growing demands for

Irish paper and packaging group Smurfit Kappa (SKG) has announced a deal on the acquisition of the Dutch paper and recycling company Reparenco. The acquisition, which is valued at €460m, will reportedly accelerate the group’s strategic objectives and strengthen its paper integration in Europe.
Reparenco operates a paper mill in Renkum that is doing business as Parenco with a capacity to produce 405,000 tpy of recycled containerboard and 270,000 tpy of SC paper and improved newsprint on two

Metsä Group has established a new innovation company, Metsä Spring Ltd. The company will, together with partner organisations, invest in new endeavours with the target to identify and develop new business opportunities in sustainable forest-based bioeconomy and circular economy. Niklas von Weymarn has been appointed CEO of the company. He transfers to Metsä Spring from the position of VP, research in Metsä Fibre, also part of Metsä Group. The office of Metsä Spring is in the heart of the

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) marked the 5th anniversary of its landmark sustainability commitment, the Forest Conservation Policy (FCP). Under the policy, which was developed with the assistance of NGOs and other partners, APP committed itself to achieving deforestation-free supply chain, and to advance towards becoming a more sustainable business. At an event for stakeholders, APP reviewed the progress it has made since 2013, identified challenges, and restated commitments to areas of

An upgrade of the mill, which is in South West France, was successfully completed in March following a three-week shutdown and included the implementation of a new pulp washing line, and a complete overhaul of the black liquor recovery boiler.
SKG next plans a series of improvements to the paper machine No. 5 commencing in 2019, which on completion, will increase its production capacity of white top kraftliner from 174,000 tonnes to 220,000 tonnes per annum, and further enhance the quality of

Due to continuing cost increases of pulp and other raw materials, Sappi announced that it is forced to increase its Dye Sublimation and Large Format Inkjet paper prices as from 1 May 2018. This measure is necessary to mitigate continuing margin erosion and keeping the business sustainable.
The increase will be 5 to 8% for all Dye Sublimation grades and 6 to 9% for the Large Format Inkjet papers. The price rise will apply to all European and Overseas markets.
Practical implementation will be

Local and international watchdogs have criticized Indonesia’s biggest pulp and paper producer for what they consider an inability to satisfy its lead zero-deforestation strategy.
The joint statement lambasting Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) comes on the fifth anniversary of the launch of the company’s Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) in February 2013, in which it pledged to not destroy natural forests for its pulpwood plantations.
According to estimates by Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of

Revised proposal from International Paper fails to reflect Smurfit Kappa’s intrinsic value, track record and superior prospects as an independent business.
Under the terms of the revised proposal, Smurfit Kappa shareholders would receive €25.25 in cash (which would be reduced to €24.605 after payment of the final dividend of 64.5% recommended on 7 February 2018 and to be paid on 11 May 2018) and 0.3028 new shares of International Paper common stock for each Smurfit Kappa ordinary share held by

German paper mills Feldmuehle Uetersen and Papierfabrik Scheufelen, which both filed for insolvency in January, have updated on their progress with days to go until bankruptcy proceedings kick off at both companies.
Lenningen-based Papierfabrik Scheufelen initiated preliminary insolvency proceedings on 30 January. The company said talks with potential investors are continuing but that production is temporarily suspended as insolvency proceedings get under way from 1st April.
The “vast majority”

Dubai based paper distributors, Papers Worldwide has released 2 new swatchbooks for the Middle East region.
Ashita Judge, CEO of Papers Worldwide says: “Our 2 new swatchbooks for the ME region consist of ‘Arabesque Swatchbook”, which is our master book with all paper products and brands offered through Papers Worldwide displayed in one place and the other one is the ‘Neo Collection’ featuring our newly launched coated fine paper selection. The Arabesque Swatchbook is divided into 4 books for

International Paper announced plans to invest approximately $300 million to convert its paper machine in Alabama from uncoated freesheet to high quality whitetop linerboard and containerboard. The conversion is targeted to be completed by mid-year 2019. The investment will add 450,000 tons of annual capacity, with flexibility to shift between containerboard products.
“Our customers expect us to support their growth and this machine conversion will meet their needs,” said Tim Nicholls, IP’s

UPM Specialty Papers has strengthened its digital presence by launching www.upmspecialtypapers.com.
The new website offers a quick and easy access to comprehensive information on UPM Specialty Papers’ extensive range of specialty papers, service solutions and responsible operations. The UPM Paper Online Catalogue, where UPM’s vast paper portfolio can easily be browsed, can also be accessed via the new website. Visitors can also stay informed with the latest news of the company on the new

Mondi announced that it has decided to postpone its $159.4 million investment in a new 90,000 tonne per annum machine glazed speciality kraft paper machine at its Steti mill in the Czech Republic.
In January of this year, Mondi announced plans to invest a total of EUR 470 million in the modernisation and expansion of the Steti mill. The project consists of the installation of a new recovery boiler, the rebuild of the fibre lines, the debottlenecking of the paper machines and an investment in a

Paper manufacturer UPM has launched a new innovation, UPM Impresse plus C, an SC paper custom-developed for coldset web offset printing. UPM Impresse plus C offers a smoother, glossier finish and magazine-quality result for CSWO printing.
“Customers with coldset presses told us they needed to make better use of their capacity and expand into new areas of commercial printing but they couldn’t compete with the quality of heatset and rotogravure printers,” explains Olli Juntunen, product manager at

More paper price rises are on the way with global suppliers James Cropper and Mitsubishi HiTec Paper both announcing significant price hikes that will take effect in coming weeks.
Mitsubishi HiTec, manufacturer of coated specialty papers, is increasing prices for its Thermoscript thermal paper and Giroform carbonless paper by 6-7%, effective Sept.
“Further increases in costs for pulp, chemicals and logistics make this adjustment necessary,” the company told customers in a letter.
About 700

German specialty paper producer Papierfabrik August Koehler said that it intends to invest approximately half a billion Euro by the year 2020 to grow the company, and a primary investment of EUR 300 million is earmarked for the installation of a specialty paper machine with a Yankee cylinder at the company’s Kehl paper mill in Germany, reported PaperAge.
In a statement the manufacturer announced ‘The off-machine coater will be equipped with multiple cutting-edge coating application

Verso Corporation announced plans to permanently shut down the No. 3 paper machine and associated equipment at its Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine, reducing annual coated paper production capacity at the mill by approximately 200,000 tons.
The No. 3 paper machine and a recovery boiler and digester that support it were idled in January of this year in response to declining customer demand that resulted in more coated paper capacity than could be filled. Most products made on the No. 3 paper

Belgian papermaker Idempapers is likely to shut down after attempts to find a buyer for the business failed.
The company makes a range of specialty papers for offset and digital printing. It was formed through a management buy-out at Arjowiggins Belgium in 2009.
It is well-known for its Idem carbonless paper range and claims to be the market leader in this area, although the market for carbonless paper has declined substantially over the past decade. It also makes other specialist papers

Neenah Paper showed one of the star products at last week’s Fespa exhibition in Hamburg – a new type of transfer paper that simplifies the production of small-format screens for screen printers.
The firm’s ExoStencil Screen Prep Paper allows printers to quickly and easily make screens up to A3 size without the need for chemicals. The process involves three steps. First, the required design is printed onto an ExoStencil imaging sheet in a laserprinter – Neenah recommends an OKI model. Then a dry

Sappi has collaborated with Felix Schoeller Group to first jointly developed paper-based packaging solution is part of the Sappi Guard range. It has high barrier properties with integrated barriers against water vapour, oxygen and grease. In addition, it also has excellent sealing properties. The 100 g/m2 paper composite is a sustainable solution and a very good alternative to existing commercially available plastic and aluminium packaging. Developed for the food sector, it consists of 80%

Japan Pulp and Paper (JP) has announced its plan to buy a 51% stake in the soon-to-be merged businesses of Australiasian paper and packaging suppliers BJ Ball (Page Pack Pty Ltd) and KW Doggett.
In a deal subject to several approvals, including that of the ACCC, BJ Ball, an importer and wholesaler of paper, packaging and related products and KW Doggett, importer and merchant of fine papers are set to merge their businesses, and JP will purchase a 51% stake in the merged entity to the value of

Australia’s only manufacturer of printing and packaging paper has expressed grave concern about calls for the removal of trade barriers for Indonesian paper products.
Allegations that Indonesia and other countries have already dumped cheap A4 copy paper in Australia have been the subject of an Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC) inquiry that’s expected to hand down its final report on or before 17 March 2017.
During a visit to Australia last month to discuss a proposed free trade deal, Indonesian

Stora Enso is targeting savings of €12m with plans to permanently close a paper machine at its Kvarnsveden Mill in Sweden.
The closure of paper machine 8 (PM8) at the Kvarnsveden Mill, part of the paper giant’s broader ongoing restructure that includes the reorganisation of its Swedish site, will put around 140 jobs at risk.
The manufacturer is proposing to close PM8 by the end of the second quarter this year. The machine has an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes of super-calendered (SC) uncoated

Looking at waste paper as a resource instead of a liability will help the paper and print industry go a long way in adopting sustainable natural resource management.
According to the World Bank, about 1.6 billion people depend on forest resources for their livelihoods. Of this, 60m people are fully dependent on forests, while an additional 350m depend on them primarily for income and subsistence.
Forests also play an important role in climate regulation by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide

Goudsmit highlights use of its magnetic filter for removing steel wires from paper pulp.
The metal separation expert Koen Böggemann recently visited a large paper mill in the Netherlands. The company was looking for a solution for removing steel wires from the paper pulp. These steel wires end up in the pulp as a result of incomplete removal of the binding wires that hold the bales of cellulose together. This is done before the cellulose is processed into pulp.
Koen: “As a result of the automated

Soon after paper price increases of up to 10% were implemented across the board, a number of mills have now announced subsequent increases for coated and uncoated woodfree grades.
Lecta is set to increase European prices of all two-side coated woodfree grades in sheets and reels by 8% to 9%, effective with deliveries from 13th March.
“The price movement is unavoidable to offset rising manufacturing costs, particularly energy, pulp, latex and other raw materials,” the firm said in a statement.

Mondi announced that it will invest EUR 470 million in the modernisation and expansion of the Steti mill in the Czech Republic, subject to obtaining approval. The project consists of the installation of a new recovery boiler, the rebuild of the fibre lines, the debottlenecking of the paper machines and an investment in a new 90,000 tonnes per annum machine glazed kraft paper machine.
The new recovery boiler and rebuilt fibre lines are expected to start up in late 2018, while the new paper

Hamburger Containerboard said it has completed an EUR 20 million paper machine upgrade project at its mill in Germany. The mill produces white testliner and grey plasterboard.
The project included increasing the machine’s production width to 5 meters, along with upgrades to the film press and drying section. In addition, a new pope reeler to accommodate wider diameters and an upgraded soft-nip calendar were installed.
The updated production line now has the capacity to produce 250,000 tons of

In February this year, Lecta announced a price increase for its carbonless paper deliveries, effective March 1, 2017.
The price increase will range from 5 to 6%, depending on product format and country, Lecta said.
In a press release Lecta said, “The price increase is unavoidable to offset rising manufacturing costs, particularly energy, pulp, latex and other raw materials.
“Lecta sales teams are at our customers’ disposal to provide specific information on how the price increase will be applied